PLUM CLAFOUTIS
FREEFORM SPICED APPLE PIE
BAKED HONEYCOMB PUDDINGS
PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKES WITH RUM CREAM
CARAMELISING
BANANA AND COCONUT CAKE WITH CARAMELISED BANANA COCONUT ICE CREAM
WARM SPICED COURGETTE CAKE WITH ANISE CARAMEL
DATE AND ORANGE BLOSSOM BRIOCHE
CARAMELISED ONION, ROSEMARY AND PARMESAN BAPS
SAFFRON AND POTATO BREAD
FERMENTED BARLEY AND ALE BREAD
GLUTEN-FREE PUMPKIN-SEED BREAD
MARMITE, ONION AND CHEDDAR BREAD
BLUE CHEESE STRAWS
COURGETTE, TARRAGON AND CHEESE SCONES
VIENNESE WHIRLS
ECCLES CAKES
BOURBON AND PECAN CREAMS
OAT, MACADAMIA AND APRICOT COOKIES
BUTTERMILK AND GOLDEN SYRUP SCONES
TOASTED ALMOND MERINGUES
SALTED CARAMEL AND MILK CHOCOLATE POPCORN BARS
MILLIONAIRE’S SHORTBREAD
LEMON MERINGUE SLICE
RHUBARB AND CUSTARD DOUGHNUTS
PRUNE AND WALNUT SLICE
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GLAZE
ESPRESSO, WHITE CHOCOLATE AND WALNUT CAKE
PINK GRAPEFRUIT SPONGE
PEAR, ALMOND AND ROSEMARY CAKE
CONVERSION CHARTS
LIST OF SEARCHABLE TERMS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MORE FROM MARCUS WAREING
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Unless otherwise stated:
Use large free-range eggs
Use whole milk (but semi-skimmed can be substituted, if you like)
Use unsalted butter
Use standard plain flour
Use fresh herbs (1 bunch = 25g)
Use medium-sized fruit and vegetables
What does the phrase ‘new classic’ mean when discussing food? To me, when talking of a ‘classic’ in cookery, I think of tradition, dishes that are tried and tested, or that represent a time or place, and have stood the test of time. The notion of a ‘new classic’ accepts that a shift has taken place, whether in taste, produce or technique, which means a new twist can be put on that dish. I want to share these recipes with you, to introduce you to new flavour combinations and cookery methods that you may not have used before. I also want to reveal my favourite dishes that are in the process of becoming classics – brilliant dishes that will become time-honoured themselves.
The ‘classics’ were exactly what I learnt at college in the 1980s. Dishes such as lobster Thermidor, sole bonne femme, béarnaise, lemon meringue pie, millefeuille, éclairs, croissants – the list goes on and on. The techniques involved in these recipes, such as emulsifying, braising, sauce-making and pastry skills, were the cornerstones of my training. Most of you will be familiar with a number of these dishes and would deem them as ‘classics’, but I would hazard a guess that you cook and eat them very rarely – some because of their heaviness or the lengthy work involved, and some just because they’re not to our modern tastes. This is what led me to write this book. I felt that, while classics will always have a firm place in any cuisine, new versions of the classics and new classics themselves deserve to come to the fore.
When I was a child, our family ate relatively simple food – generally meat and two veg, one of which was almost always a potato. As a family, we were not particularly adventurous and my siblings and I ate what was put in front of us. We all sat down together as a family to have our evening meal, though – always. My favourite dinner was roast leg of lamb with mint sauce and Jersey royals, followed by apple pie and cream. Fast-forward to today, and what my wife and children and I eat together is much more varied. We’ve always encouraged our children, and still do, to try new foods and flavours. These days you’re likely to find us eating chicken curry on a weeknight, and enjoy a pork chop with mustard sauce and tarragon on a Sunday. My children are very keen cooks themselves, which is of course actively encouraged!
Any good dish must start with great ingredients. It was in my father’s fruit and potato warehouse that I learnt the value of ingredients. I began to understand the difference between the flavour of unripe fruit and that of wonderfully vibrant, ripe produce. Selecting seasonal ingredients will ensure they are at their best. As I have always advocated in my cooking, ingredients are a key factor to success, so I have divided up the recipes by where we source our ingredients: the garden, the farm, the sea and the storecupboard.
FROM THE GARDEN
This chapter is something close to my heart – my father is the one to thank for my love of the humble vegetable. When sourcing ingredients, ripeness is key. Do not be afraid of over-ripeness, as this can often intensify flavour and sweetness. The Summer Vegetable Lasagne is my take on a great recipe for families, as it is a delicious way to get children to enjoy vegetables. Another favourite is Tempura Fennel, a flavoursome dish that allows the fennel to really sing out. If you want to try making your own ravioli, I’ve provided a twist on the classic with my Mushroom ‘Ravioli’ with Shallot Sauce. In this chapter I also look in-depth at the technique of salt-baking. By making a salt dough and infusing it with herbs, you can impart seasoning and flavour deep into vegetables, as well as meat and fish. It is a great, simple technique that adds so much to any dish, so why not try it with the Salt-baked Parsnip and Horseradish crumble for a winter supper or the Salt-baked Kabocha Squash, Pomegranate, Ricotta and Mint in late summer?
FROM THE FARM
Here I feature some of my favourite cuts of meat, such as Hanger Steak, which is rather underused. There is also my favourite Roast Chicken recipe, where the chicken is baked with fennel and potatoes. Both recipes showcase brining, which seasons meat or fish right to the core and tenderises it in the process. It takes a little more organisation but it’s well worth it, with a tender, moist and well-flavoured dish as a result. The caramelised pears give an extra dimension to a classic Slow-cooked Pork Belly for a weekend family lunch, and my Herb and Mozzarella Meatball Bake is a great one for a midweek supper. When it comes to meat, look for good marbling in beef and lamb and vibrant flesh. What the animals are fed on can also affect the flavour